Over 200,000 preventable deaths by overdose occur each year worldwide. The goals then of International Overdose Awareness Day are to honour those lost, educate to prevent further death & injury, and take action for change.

In Ottawa, Ontario earlier this week, a rally was held to help reduce the stigma surrounding drug overdose and push for a better and more readily available overdose prevention and reversing strategy. "Attendees said more of these deaths can be avoided by being more compassionate to people addicted to drugs" in addition to making the drug naloxone more widely available.Find out more by checking out the article, "Drug overdose deaths can be curbed by compassion, ralliers say" by CBC News.